Probably your understanding of best antispyware is simple: it should protect, remove all infections and preferably cost nothing. However, there's a lot more that makes a good security program, if not ideal than at least close to being perfect.

Below is a list of 5 crucially important features that are vital to every anti spyware application that wants to be called "best".

1. Active and reliable real-time protection. A common PC security concept tells that protecting and preventing is always better than finding and removing infections. Often the spyware activity leads to corrupt settings that are impossible to restore. This is why an effective real-time guard is so important. Its main function is hidden behind icons in the tray area, its main work is performed in the system memory, and it only shows its active presence when a threat is detected.

2. Updates. No matter how perfect antispyware is, its program components can always be improved, be it some bug fixes or interface polishing. But the main purpose of updating is to provide the installed software with information about latest spyware threats spot on the Web by security labs. Latest definitions allow the program to avoid false positives.

3. Scan modes. If a program offers just a "Scan" button without any options to choose from, it is suspicious. Normally antispyware software would provide at least 3 modes of scanning -- deep, quick and custom. Custom mode allows to specify additional parameters (exclude certain file extensions or sizes, specify logical drives, etc). Quick mode is based on a pre-defined set of locations where the scanner will look for infections. Normally these are the registry, system folders, root of the drive where operating system is installed, etc. Finally, in deep mode the scanner will check every single file for patterns of malware. This mode is most effective in detecting threats, but also takes longest to complete.

4. It's nice when antispyware offers to submit a report about detected threats or even a suspicious file for closer inspection by security experts. Nowadays the tough competition makes software companies interact with customers, and anonymous reports are an important source of statistical information that is used to decide which threats need special definitions to address the issues.

5. Support. Sometimes this is what sets good and best antispyware far apart. While phone support might be costly for the manufacturer, communication via email is considered to be part of the company's public image. And if you cannot get the necessary information from the supplied help, neither online FAQ page exists, then you should be able to contact the stuff directly via email.

These are only 5 key features that you should be looking for in every antispyware. However, there's a lot more to know if you want to make a weight decision. You'll find them in the hubpage hyperlinked in the resource box.